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1727717

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people (a) on lower incomes and (b) who are living with a long-term health condition with the cost of prescription charges.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4433
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2024 answer text <p>There are a wide range of exemptions already in place to help people afford prescriptions. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and those with chronic illnesses may already be eligible for an exemption. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.</p><p>People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available, and the 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.</p> answering member constituency Bristol South answering member printed Karin Smyth question first answered 13/09/2024 10:01:26 answering member 4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727718

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to review the prescription charge medical exemption list annually.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4434
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2024 answer text <p>There are no current plans to review the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place, for which those with chronic illnesses may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.</p><p>People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available, and the 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.</p> answering member constituency Bristol South answering member printed Karin Smyth question first answered 13/09/2024 09:57:32 answering member 4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727740

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Statutory Sick Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that reforms to Statutory Sick Pay take account of (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other fluctuating conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4435
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2024 answer text <p>No one should be forced to choose between their health and financial hardship, which is why we plan to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), so it provides a safety net for those who need it most. The Plan to Make Work Pay commits to remove the Lower Earnings Limit to make it available to all workers and remove the waiting period so that SSP is paid from the first day of sickness absence. Together these changes will ensure everyone receives fair earnings replacement when they have to take time off work.</p><p> </p><p>Paying SSP for all days of work missed because of sickness will help support employees who have fluctuating conditions who may take frequent, shorter absences from work as part of managing their health condition, such as multiple sclerosis.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Birkenhead answering member printed Alison McGovern question first answered 10/09/2024 11:37:02 answering member 4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727741

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Statutory Sick Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Fourth Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2023-24 on Statutory Sick Pay, HC148, published on 28 March 2024, in the Employment Rights Bill.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4436
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government will be providing a response to the Fourth Report of the Work and Pensions Committee of Session 2023-24 on Statutory Sick Pay in due course and once the Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee has been appointed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Birkenhead answering member printed Alison McGovern question first answered 10/09/2024 11:39:20 answering member 4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727742

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Statutory Sick Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the rate of Statutory Sick Pay to that of the National Living Wage.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4437
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2024 answer text <p>No one should be forced to choose between their health and financial hardship, which is why we plan to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), so it provides a safety net for those who need it most. The Plan to Make Work Pay commits to remove the Lower Earnings Limit to make it available to all workers and remove the waiting period so that SSP is paid from the first day of sickness absence. Together these changes will ensure everyone receives fair earnings replacement when they have to take time off work.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will continue to keep the rate of SSP under review as part of the annual uprating process.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Birkenhead answering member printed Alison McGovern question first answered 10/09/2024 11:10:36 answering member 4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727743

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Statutory Sick Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of paying Statutory Sick Pay at an hourly rate.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4438
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2024 answer text <p>No one should be forced to choose between their health and financial hardship, which is why we plan to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), so it provides a safety net for those who need it most. The Plan to Make Work Pay commits to remove the Lower Earnings Limit to make it available to all workers and remove the waiting period so that SSP is paid from the first day of sickness absence. Together these changes will ensure everyone receives fair earnings replacement when they have to take time off work.</p><p> </p><p>As part of these changes consideration will be given as to how to best structure the payment rate for individuals earning below the flat weekly rate of SSP.</p> answering member constituency Birkenhead answering member printed Alison McGovern question first answered 10/09/2024 11:33:44 answering member 4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727744

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Business and Trade
	answering dept id	214
	answering dept short name	Business and Trade
	answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
	hansard heading	Conditions of Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Government response to the consultation entitled Health is everyone’s business, published on 4 October 2021, whether he plans to incorporate proposals within that consultation on tackling ill health-related job losses into the Employment Rights Bill.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4439
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to delivering the Plan to Make Work Pay in full and updating Britain's employment protections, so they are fit for our modern economy and the future of work. As set out in the Plan to Make to Work Pay we are committed to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), so it provides a safety net for those who need it most. We will remove the Lower Earnings Limit to make it available to all workers and remove the waiting period so that SSP is paid from the first day of sickness absence. Ministers are identifying the most appropriate delivery mechanisms for the commitments in the Plan, including an Employment Rights Bill that will be introduced to Parliament within 100 days of taking office.</p> answering member constituency Ellesmere Port and Bromborough answering member printed Justin Madders question first answered 11/09/2024 09:53:51 answering member 4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727129

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Speech and Language Therapy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that speech, language and communication (a) needs and (b) development are supported as early as possible including for children whose needs are identified pre-school age.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2024 answer text <p>Early language skills are vital in enabling children to thrive in the early years and later life, as well as for all aspects of later attainment in school.</p><p>The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements that all early years providers must follow to ensure every child has the best start in life and is prepared for school. The three prime areas of learning and development within the EYFS are particularly important for building a strong foundation, with communication and language being one of the prime areas.</p><p>Assessment plays an important part in helping parents, carers and practitioners to recognise children’s progress, understand their needs and to plan activities and support. The assessment requirements in the EYFS include a progress check at age two and the EYFS Profile, both of which involve reviewing a child’s development in communication and language.</p><p>However, the department knows that when it comes to referrals for additional support, too many children are waiting too long for speech and language therapy. NHS planning guidance asks local systems to reduce overall waiting times for community services, with a particular focus on reducing the longest waits. Community health services, including speech and language therapy, will be key in delivering this government’s commitment to shift to a neighbourhood health service and provide more care in the community. Full details of the NHS operational planning and contracting guidance can be found on this website: <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/operational-planning-and-contracting/" target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/operational-planning-and-contracting/</a>.</p><p>To further support early language skills, the department is also:</p><ul><li>Extending the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme (NELI) for the 2024/25 academic year to support reception-aged children needing extra support with their speech and language development. NELI is proven to help children make four months of additional progress, and seven months for those eligible for free school meals.</li><li>Delivering the early years education recovery programme, including:</li></ul><p>Providing funding for settings to undertake evidence-based continuous professional development programmes, including those focussed on speech, language and communication, via a national network of early years stronger practice hubs.</p><p>Training through the ‘professional development programme’ and the online early years child development training, both of which include a specific module focused on early language.</p><p>Training for up to 7,000 special educational needs co-ordinators to help children with speech, language and communication needs and support earlier identification of needs.</p><ul><li>Enabling Family Hubs to train practitioners to support families with the home learning environment. Practitioners are being trained to help parents learn new skills, including providing effective support for children’s speech and communication.</li><li>Working in partnership with NHS England to deliver the ‘Early Language Support for Every Child’ pathfinders.</li><li>Working with partners to deliver an ‘Early Language Local Innovation and Excellence’ programme which includes implementation of published speech and language communication pathway guidance and an early language identification measure.</li><li>Publishing early years special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) assessment guidance and resources including practical advice, tools and downloadable resources. These will help educators assess children with SEND, capture their voice, and set learning targets featuring a dedicated tool for communication and interaction.</li></ul> answering member constituency Portsmouth South answering member printed Stephen Morgan question first answered 11/09/2024 12:28:07 answering member 4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727130

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Speech and Language Therapy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure the specialist workforce needed for (a) babies, (b) children and (c) young people with speech, language and communication needs.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2024 answer text <p>This government’s vision for children and young people with special educational needs, including those with speech, language and communication needs, is the same as it is for all children and young people. We want them to achieve well in their early years, at school and in further education; to find employment; to lead happy and fulfilled lives; and to experience choice and control.</p><p>In July, the department announced that funded support would continue in the 2024/25 academic year for 11,100 schools registered to the Nuffield early language intervention programme. This will help pupils who need extra support with speech and language development to find their voice. The department is also funding the Early Language and Support For Every Child pathfinders, in partnership with NHS England. This will fund nine Integrated Care Boards and will fund one of the local areas within each of the nine Regional Expert Partnerships to trial new ways of working to better identify and support children with speech, language and communication needs in early years and primary schools. Alongside this, we know that continuing to build the pipeline of speech and language therapists is essential. That is why the department introduced the speech and language degree apprenticeship, which is now in its third year of delivery and offers an alternative pathway into a successful career as a speech and language therapist.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth South answering member printed Stephen Morgan grouped question UIN 4031 4032 question first answered 11/09/2024 12:31:41 answering member 4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1727131

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Speech and Language Therapy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the specialist workforce needed for (a) babies, (b) children and (c) young people with speech, language, and communication needs.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	4031
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2024 answer text <p>This government’s vision for children and young people with special educational needs, including those with speech, language and communication needs, is the same as it is for all children and young people. We want them to achieve well in their early years, at school and in further education; to find employment; to lead happy and fulfilled lives; and to experience choice and control.</p><p>In July, the department announced that funded support would continue in the 2024/25 academic year for 11,100 schools registered to the Nuffield early language intervention programme. This will help pupils who need extra support with speech and language development to find their voice. The department is also funding the Early Language and Support For Every Child pathfinders, in partnership with NHS England. This will fund nine Integrated Care Boards and will fund one of the local areas within each of the nine Regional Expert Partnerships to trial new ways of working to better identify and support children with speech, language and communication needs in early years and primary schools. Alongside this, we know that continuing to build the pipeline of speech and language therapists is essential. That is why the department introduced the speech and language degree apprenticeship, which is now in its third year of delivery and offers an alternative pathway into a successful career as a speech and language therapist.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth South answering member printed Stephen Morgan grouped question UIN 4030 4032 question first answered 11/09/2024 12:31:41 answering member 4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols